Travel team spotlight: Florida Gold Coast
Now in its 20th season, the Florida Gold Coast travel team is one of the most successful programs based in the South Florida area.
Founded in 1998, Florida Gold Coast has helped its players earn scholarships to well-regarded universities such as Florida, Alabama, Kansas State and Boston University.
Whether it’s Division I or Division II, Division III, NAIA or JUCO, the priority of assisting players to make it to the next level remains the same.
“Our goals are to get our players as many offers to play college basketball as possible,” Director Steven Lopez said.
Florida Gold Coast plays year round in the Adidas Gauntlet Silver Division as well as in AAU and other various local tournaments.
Florida Gold Coast, which has teams in the 16u and 17u age brackets, is particularly ripe with perimeter talent.
In total, there’s currently 21 players in the Florida Gold Coast program.
Recently, the 17u Florida Gold Coast squad defeated Team Breakdown and Urban DWF en route to capturing the Dallas Adidas Gauntlet championship.
Florida Gold Coast has made the rounds to Atlanta, Orlando and New York recently as well.
Here’s a look at some of the standouts from Florida Gold Coast, with comments from Lopez on each player:
17u
Issad Solano (6-foot-3/Slam):
“Will probably be a Division I player. He’s like a bull on defense. He gives it you, will talk to you or do whatever he has to do to get into your head and make sure you don’t score. He’s been leading the 17u team in scoring, rebounds and is second or third in steals.”
Luis Pacheco (5-foot-9/Slam):
“Third in Adidas Gauntlet in steals per game, almost five. The kid is just like a little gnat. Defensively he’s just tough to match up with. He’s 5-foot-8 but he plays like he’s 6-foot-1. In the championship game in Dallas, he himself just took over the game for us.”
16u
Jordan Lopez (6-foot-2/Palmetto)
“Jordan led the team in scoring at 15 points a game, four rebounds, five assists. Is one of the best shooters in Dade County. This summer Jordan has shot 48 percent from three. He has a scorer’s mentality at the two-guard position.”
Jeffery Bujan (6-foot-2/South Miami)
“Averaged 14 points per game. Had a game where he scored 31 points in Atlanta versus a very good Playmakers team in the semifinals. He’s been playing very well and out of his mind.”